West Virginia Open to Homicide Prosecution for Massey Coal Mine Deaths

[Turborama]

West Virginia Open to Homicide Prosecution for Massey Coal Mine Deaths

by Corporate Crime Reporter


For years, the state of West Virginia was proud to say that it was "open for business."

In a twist, now it might be open for a homicide prosecution in connection with the deaths of 29 miners at the Massey Energy mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia earlier this month.

"If there is evidence to support a homicide prosecution, I would not hesitate to prosecute," Kristen Keller, the prosecuting attorney for Raleigh County told Corporate Crime Reporter last week.

Keller says she has been in touch with the West Virginia State Police on the matter.

And she says that any federal regulatory investigation would not preclude a state homicide investigation.

Continues: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/04/16-8

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I hope that Blankenship and his ilk get the long, long jail terms they deserve.

and their fortunes are used to help the survivors of the mine tragedies to live their lives without financial worry.

[laughingliberal]

2. Rec. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. but...but...it was supposed to be.."clean coal"

[spinbaby]

4. Ain't gonna happen

Blankenship owns too many souls in WV.

[sabrina 1]

10. Hopefully this will not be settled in WV, where as you say,

he owns judges and politicians. Hopefully this will be taken care by the DOJ and he will not be able to pay off anyone this time.

[Turborama]

12. President Obama is bringing in the Feds...

"We just concluded a meeting, where they briefed me on their investigation. I want to emphasize that this investigation is ongoing, and there’s still a lot that we don’t know. But we do know that this tragedy was triggered by a failure at the Upper Big Branch mine -- a failure first and foremost of management...

...Owners responsible for conditions in the Upper Big Branch mine should be held accountable for decisions they made and preventive measures they failed to take. And I’ve asked Secretary Solis to work with the Justice Department to ensure that every tool in the federal government is available in this investigation."


I posted the full speech here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x455628">Obama Orders National Mine Safety Review & Is Bringing In The Feds To Investigate Massey's Owners

Personally, I don't think the President will allow him to get away with it.

[sabrina 1]

13. Thank you, that's the only way to get something done.

If it's left to WV, it will be business as usual. It's not as if someone like Blankenship cares about the loss of lives. But he's probably a bit more worried now than he has ever been before. I hope you're right, Turborama. I hope the media doesn't stop reporting on the story, as often happens, and then the public outrage dies down.

Thanks for the link to the speech ~

[Dogmudgeon]

5. I think Don would look just MARVY in an orange jumpsuit!

He'll be the envy of the jailhouse fashion district!

--d!

[WVRICK13]

6. Kristen Don't Drive

on back roads or alone. In fact, stay very very public at all times. People have a way of having accidents when the upset the power structure in WV. Be safe.

[sabrina 1]

11. Good advice. n/t

[Kingofalldems]

7. K and R for the teabaggers

[ihavenobias]

8. # 14. n/t

[sabrina 1]

9. He was so arrogant for so long.

He is the epitome of all that has gone wrong with this country. Wrapping himself in the flag, slamming liberals and their crazy ideas of putting people before profits.

He said in an interview not so long ago that we have to 'get used to living in a capitalistic society where it is the survival of the fittest'.

He smashed the unions. He threatened workers with their jobs if they dared to support the unions.

I hope there are consequences for this tragedy. This time, I hope things don't go back to the way they were after the media goes away. Blankenship thought the new regulations put in place after the last tragedy in 2006, when 12 miners lost their lives, 'were as silly as Global Warming'. And he ignored those new safety measures.

I am glad that at least someone is talking about prosecuting this man. I hope it happens, and that all those in WV who were intimidated by him, are not scared of him anymore. It's no longer a WV problem where politicians and judges can be bought off.

Thanks for the thread, Turborama ~ I really appreciate the work you've been doing on this story, since way before this tragedy happened.

:kick: and rec'd ~

[lunatica]

14. It wouldn't surprise me if this guy were more directly involved in murder

It's not a big jump to believe anyone who becomes a corrupt powermonger is involved in unsolved murders along the way.